Page 32 of Love at First Ink

“I think you’ve earned a piece of pizza.” She smiled and passed him the box.

Cisco took one look inside and gasped, offended. “What is this?”

“What is what?” Marisol wrinkled her brow, trying to peer into the box, but Cisco jerked it out of her view.

“This!” He shook something limp in front of her, and ittook Marisol a moment to realize he was shaking a piece of her uneaten crust at her. “You are an adult, Marisol. How can you not eat the crust? It’s the best part.”

“One”—Marisol held up a perfectly manicured finger—“the crust is not the best part. And two, wait until you see how I eat my sandwiches.”

“I don’t think I’m ready for that.” Cisco feigned repulsion before popping the entire pizza crust into his mouth, stunning her. “You don’t know what you’re missing,” he murmured around the food.

“I think I’ll be fine.” Marisol chuckled, rolling her eyes.

Snowball meowed from her perch on the windowsill as if agreeing with Marisol. The cat had adjusted quite easily and quickly to her new house. It felt like Snowball had always been here. She still wasn’t sure about Cisco, but the curious cat had watched his work as if supervising his every move.

Marisol couldn’t help but think how well Cisco fit in here too. Their conversation was easy. He didn’t ask her any more about Archie, which she appreciated. They simply talked about their favorite music and the concert. She didn’t speak much about herself, because, really, there wasn’t much to say, but she enjoyed learning everything she could about Cisco.

She learned he spent most of his weekends at Lucky Rabbit to discover new bands and often tattooed the employees. That most of his employees were family, and he enjoyed having a family business. He went to a prestigious college for business while tattooing and working at a restaurant on the side. Cisco liked to travel and recently went to visit family in Mexico. It was all fascinating, and she soaked it up.

But time was a thief. After they ate their way through the pizza—her without the crust—and finished the second movie of the night—which they paid very little attention to—Marisollooked at the time. She was disheartened to see that it was almost eleven, and she had a therapy session in the morning. Normally her sessions were on Mondays, but Alice had a last-minute function she needed to attend and didn’t want Marisol to have to wait another week before being seen. She greatly appreciated that.

Cisco seemed to notice the time too because he angled his body toward hers and took her hand. It felt like the most natural thing in the world. “When can I see you again?”

It was a surreal experience to want to be seen again. Not only wanted, but for someone toneedto see her again. She contemplated the right response. She didn’t want to be seen as too eager and come off as clingy. But she also didn’t want to wait too long to see him again.

Fuck it, she was going to risk sounding clingy.

“I have therapy tomorrow, but after?” she suggested, hoping she didn’t sound as desperate as she felt.

“I’ll pick you up from Alice’s office,” he said automatically, like it wasn’t a crazy idea to see each other again so soon.

“I’ll have my car, so why don’t you meet me here?” she suggested.

“I’ll take care of it.”

“But how?—”

“Princesa, I’ll take care of it. Let me pick you up, okay?”

How could she argue with that? And why the hell did it make her swoon to be taken care of like this?

“Okay,” she said softly, unable to hide her smile.

“It’s late,” Cisco said, looking at the front door as if it personally offended him.

“It is.”

“I should go.”

“Probably,”she agreed.

His eyes dipped to her lips. Unknowingly, she ran her tongue along her bottom lip, wetting it. Cisco’s pupils dilated. “I’m going to kiss you before I leave, Princesa.”

“Okay,” Marisol said breathlessly. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest as an invisible string pulled her closer.

She didn’t have time to be self-conscious about her breath or if she was a good kisser because Cisco’s lips were on hers. It was soft, but mighty. She felt the kiss throughout her entire body. Kissing had never been like this before. Never made her feel lightheaded and wanted all at once.

But it was too fast. Too light. Just as quickly as it started, it was over. Marisol’s eyes fluttered open in time to see Cisco staring—admiring? She had half a mind to pull him back and feel his lips on hers for longer, but she held back. She couldn’t muster up the courage.

---